EP0192694B1 - Elektrischer winkelverschiebungssensor - Google Patents

Elektrischer winkelverschiebungssensor Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0192694B1
EP0192694B1 EP85904270A EP85904270A EP0192694B1 EP 0192694 B1 EP0192694 B1 EP 0192694B1 EP 85904270 A EP85904270 A EP 85904270A EP 85904270 A EP85904270 A EP 85904270A EP 0192694 B1 EP0192694 B1 EP 0192694B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carrier
strain
locations
thickness
angular range
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP85904270A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0192694A1 (de
Inventor
Alexander Croy Nicol
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University of Strathclyde
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University of Strathclyde
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103—Measuring devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/107—Measuring physical dimensions, e.g. size of the entire body or parts thereof
    • A61B5/1071—Measuring physical dimensions, e.g. size of the entire body or parts thereof measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B7/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D5/00—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2562/00—Details of sensors; Constructional details of sensor housings or probes; Accessories for sensors
    • A61B2562/02—Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
    • A61B2562/0247—Pressure sensors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2562/00—Details of sensors; Constructional details of sensor housings or probes; Accessories for sensors
    • A61B2562/02—Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
    • A61B2562/0261—Strain gauges
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S33/00—Geometrical instruments
    • Y10S33/13—Wire and strain gauges

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electrical sensor for measuring angular displacement. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an electro-goniometer for use in monitoring joint mobility in patients with ailments such as arthritis which produce abnormal joint movement.
  • One electro-goniometer for use in medical assessment of joint mobility uses mercury-filled tubes as resistive elements of a Wheatstone bridge circuit (see, for example, GB-A-2099155). Two or four such tubes are used to provide a bendable beam and a linear relationship between electrical output and angular displacement is given. Problems have been encountered concerning the long-term stability of the electrode/mercury interface and also the well- recognised toxicity of mercury makes its use undesirable.
  • An object of this invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.
  • the invention is as set out in claim 1.
  • an electrical sensor for use in providing a signal indicative of angular displacement between two spaced locations, comprising a flexible carrier of material capable of flexing when its ends are fixed to said locations and said locations undergo relative rotary movement within a predetermined angular range; and at least one electrically conductive element having a resistance which is a function of strain affixed to the carrier and extending therealong substantially the whole distance between said locations.
  • the carrier is a flexible elastic member
  • the conductive element is a conductive elastomer (such as rubber doped with carbon particles).
  • the electrically conductive element comprises a wire resistance strain gauge and the thickness of the carrier is selected such that the strain at the surface threof does not exceed a predetermined limit when the carrier is flexed by relative rotary movement of said locations within said predetermined angular range, this limit being selected such that there is no permanent plastic deformation of the carrier or the strain gauge when relative movement of the locations within the predetermined angular range causes maximum flexure of the carrier.
  • strain gauges for determining angular rotations in engineering applications is described in "Measurement of the Angular Displacement of a Platform Mounted on a Flexible Column", T P Adams et al, Measurement and Control, Volume 18, November 1985, pp 464-468.
  • the carrier is a thin strip of spring steel not exceeding 0.5 mm in thickness.
  • Other possible materials are, for example, non-ferrous metals, acrylic polymers, thermoplastics materials and other plastics materials and fibres.
  • the strain may be monitored by measuring the electrical resistance of the gauges in a Wheatstone bridge arrangement.
  • the electrical output may be calibrated to read angular displacement between the ends of the carrier.
  • the electro-goniometer of the invention uses the 'bending beam' approach but replaces the mercury filled tubes of prior devices, suitably with commercially available strain gauges. These gauges have a definite strain limit and have, up till now, been used to measure strain, stress or force where no appreciable angular displacements have occurred. The use of strain gauges where significant deflections would take place is a rather controversial step but the strain magnitude has been reduced sufficiently by decreasing the thickness of the bending beam to very small values.
  • the resulting device is therefore very flexible and tests have shown the electrical output to be linearly related to angular movement and stability to be excellent.
  • the method of bending does not influence the output (a Z bend would zero if the top and bottom ends of the carrier were parallel).
  • the size of the unit can be very small and will therefore easily satisfy the criterion on being worn beneath clothing.
  • the device therefore overcomes several of the limitations of previous devices and is convenient for the measuring of joint motion in clinical and research centres.
  • strain gauges measure the strain (change in length divided by the original length) is it necessary to relate stress (o) to strain (e) using Young's Modulus:
  • the surface strain of a bending beam is directly related to the thickness (2y) and inversely related to the radius of curvature of the deflected beam.
  • the limit of strain will be in the order of a few thousand microstrain (i.e. 1000-10,000x10 -6 ).
  • An example of the scale of strain means that a beam 5 mm thick cannot bend tighter than a 250 mm radius arc without the danger of plastic deformation.
  • the bending beam For use as a flexible electro-goniometer for joint assessment the bending beam must be able to conform to a much smaller radius of curvature. Values as low as 5 mm are required in some operating conditions which means the thickness of the beam must be recalculated.
  • an electro-goniometer 1 comprises an elongate carrier strip 2 of spring steel having an elongate strain gauge 3 adhesively secured thereto and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the strip 2.
  • the strain gauge 3 extends along substantially the whole length of the carrier strip 2. Any commercially available strain gauge of suitable dimensions may be used; examples are strain gauges sold by Kyowa KC-120-A1-11 and Showa N.11-FA-60-120-11.
  • the strip 2 in this embodiment has the following features:
  • a second, similar strain gauge is preferably provided on the opposed face of the strip 2.
  • Fig. 2 shows the device 1 applied to a hinged joint4 capable of relative rotation to give a variable angle 8.
  • the joint 4 is shown for simplicity as a pair of plates hinged together, but in practice could be for example an ankle joint.
  • the device 1 is secured at its ends by any suitable means, such as adhesive tape 5.
  • any suitable means such as adhesive tape 5.
  • the strain gauge is stretched and thus its resistance rises, while any concave curvature produces a reduction in resistance.
  • the net change in resistance is thus a function of the angle 8, regardless of the curvature or number of curves intermediate the ends of the goniometer 1.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates one circuit suitable for use with the present invention.
  • a goniometer 1 having series front and rear strain gauges 3, 3a is connected in a bridge circuit with resistors 6, 7. Further resistors and/or amplifiers may be included in the bridge to improve sensitivity.
  • the resistors 6, 7 may be fixed resistors in a monitoring circuit, or alternatively may comprise further strain gauges adjacent the goniometer to provide compensation for ambient conditions such as temperature. It is also possible to provide all four arms of the bridge as strain gauges on a single carrier.
  • the voltage measured across the goniometer of the invention is linearly proportional to the angle 8 between its ends.
  • a meter such as 8 (Fig. 3) can readily be calibrated to give a reading directly in angular measurement.
  • the invention also provides a sensor 10 for monitoring twisting movement.
  • a carrier strip 11 similar to that of the previous embodiment, has secured thereto a pair of serpentine strain gauges 12, 13 comprising lengths arranged oblique to the longitudinal axis of the strip 11; preferably the mean angle is 45°.
  • the sensor 10 acts in a manner analogous to the above embodiment to give an output indicative of the relative rotational twist between its ends about the longitudinal axis.
  • Figs. 1 and 5 can be combined as shown in Fig. 6.
  • Such a device provides means for defining the three-dimensional angular orientation of one end of the device relative to the other.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Dentistry (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Length, Angles, Or The Like Using Electric Or Magnetic Means (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)

Claims (9)

1. Ein elektrischer Sensor zum Bereitstellen eines Signals, welches eine Winkelverschiebung zwischen zwei mit Abstand angeordneten Stellen anzeigt, mit einem flexiblen Träger (2) aus einem Material, welches sich biegt, wenn seine Enden fest mit jenen Stellen verbunden sind und diese Stellen eine relative drehbewegung innerhalb eines vorbestimmten Winkelbereichs erfahren, und mit mindestens einem elektrisch leitenden Element (3), welches am Träger (2) befestigt ist und sich im wesentlichen über die gesamte Entfernung zwischen jenen Stellen erstreckt und dessen Widerstand eine Funktion der Dehnung ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das elektrisch leitende Element (3) einen Widerstandsdraht-Dehnungsmeßstreifen aufweist, und daß die Dicke des Trägers (2) so gewählt ist, daß die Dehnung an seiner Oberfläche einen vorbestimmten Grenzwert nicht überschreitet, wenn der Träger (2) durch eine innerhalb des vorbestimmten Winkelbereichs erfolgende relative Drehbewegung jener Stellen gebogen wird, und der Grenzwert so gewählt ist, daß keine bleibende plastische Verfogmung des Trägers (2) oder des Dehnungsmeßstreifens (3) eintreitt, wenn bei der relativen Bewegung jener Stellen innerhalb des vorbestimmten Winkelbereichs die maximale Biegung des Trägers (2) verursacht wird.
2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, in welcher das Element (3) eine oder mehrere Leiterbahnen auf einer Oberfläche des Trägers (2) aufweist und dieise in Richtung der Längsachse des Trägers ausgerichtet sind.
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, in welcher an der gegenüberliegenden Oberfläche des Trägers (2) ein zweites elektrisch leitendes Element (3) von der gleichen Gestalt angebracht ist.
4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, in welcher an einer Oberfläche des Trägers (11) zwei solche Elemente (12, 13) angebracht sind, von denen jedes Element (12, 13) einen schlangenförmigen Pfad bildet, der aus schräg zu der Längsachse des Trägers (11) verlaufenden Abschnitten zusammengesetzt ist, wobei die schrägen Orientierungen der zwei Element (12, 13) im Bezug auf die Längsachse im wesentlichen einander entgegengesetzt gleich sind.
5. Ein elektrischer Sensor mit den Merkmalen des Anspruch 4 in Kombination mit den Merkmalen des Anspruch 2 oder 3.
6. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, in welcher die Dicke des Trägers (2, 11) durch die Gleichung
Figure imgb0011
bestimmt ist, wobei Y die halbe Dicke des Trägers (2, 11), s die maximal zulässige Dehnung an seiner Oberfläche und R der mindest erforderliche Krümmungsradius des Trägers (2, 11) ist.
7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, in welcher die maximal zulässige Dehnung 1000x10-6 ist.
8. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, in welcher der Träger (2, 11) mit einem Krümmungsradius von weniger als 250 mm gebogen werden kann, ohne dass eine bleibende plastische Verformung eintritt.
9. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, in welcher der Träger (2, 11) ein Federstrahlstreifen mit einer Dicke von höchsten 0.5 mm ist.
EP85904270A 1984-09-01 1985-08-30 Elektrischer winkelverschiebungssensor Expired EP0192694B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8422136 1984-09-01
GB848422136A GB8422136D0 (en) 1984-09-01 1984-09-01 Electrogoniometer

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0192694A1 EP0192694A1 (de) 1986-09-03
EP0192694B1 true EP0192694B1 (de) 1989-11-02

Family

ID=10566133

Family Applications (1)

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EP85904270A Expired EP0192694B1 (de) 1984-09-01 1985-08-30 Elektrischer winkelverschiebungssensor

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4897927A (de)
EP (1) EP0192694B1 (de)
CA (1) CA1257918A (de)
DE (1) DE3574049D1 (de)
GB (1) GB8422136D0 (de)
WO (1) WO1986001588A1 (de)

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US4760850A (en) * 1986-05-15 1988-08-02 Wright State University Method for balancing assistance
NL8700750A (nl) * 1987-03-31 1988-10-17 Hendrikus Herman Schutte Dr Hoekmeter.
US5347871A (en) * 1992-02-03 1994-09-20 Teledyne Industries, Inc. Strain sensor
US5289722A (en) * 1992-04-27 1994-03-01 Kansas State University Research Foundation Preassembled, easily mountable strain gage
US5316017A (en) * 1992-10-07 1994-05-31 Greenleaf Medical Systems, Inc. Man-machine interface for a joint measurement system
US5269070A (en) * 1992-10-19 1993-12-14 Thurston Wm H Instrument for measuring flatness or uniformity of curvature
US5339533A (en) * 1993-07-01 1994-08-23 Richardson James B System for measuring stiffness of a fractured bone
GB2290616B (en) * 1994-06-20 1998-06-24 James Bruce Richardson System for measuring stiffness of a fractured bone
GB2290615B (en) * 1994-06-20 1998-07-08 James Bruce Richardson System for measuring stiffness of a fractured bone
US5533531A (en) * 1994-08-22 1996-07-09 Greenleaf Medical Systems Electronically aligned man-machine interface
USD384298S (en) * 1995-11-02 1997-09-30 Boyd Darry L Load gauge block
US20030154613A1 (en) * 2000-04-17 2003-08-21 Bernard Hodac Differential bending and/or subsidence detector and method for monitoring a structure
AU2002357580A1 (en) * 2002-12-30 2004-07-22 Massimo Bergamasco Device for gioniometric measurements
DE10324838A1 (de) * 2003-06-02 2004-12-23 Cooper Cameron Corp., Houston Messverfahren und Vorrichtung zur Messung eines zurückgelegten Weges
FR2878961B1 (fr) * 2004-12-06 2008-03-07 Daniel Henri Lucien Jos Martin Dispositif indicateur de mouvements d'un corps
FR2904409B1 (fr) * 2006-07-28 2009-02-13 Univ Aix Marseille Ii Bande souple comportant des moyens de caracterisation de sa geometrie
EP2049868A2 (de) * 2006-08-09 2009-04-22 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Verfahren zur anbringung einer kette verbundener spannungssensoren an einem objekt, flexible stützstruktur dafür und verfahren zur herstellung einer mineralischen kohlenwasserstoffflüssigkeit
FR2906025B1 (fr) * 2006-09-14 2009-04-03 Commissariat Energie Atomique Procede et dispositif d'acquisition d'une forme geometrique deformable
DE102007044555A1 (de) * 2007-07-18 2009-01-22 Siemens Ag Optische Koppelvorrichtung und Verfahren zu deren Herstellung
EP2265900A2 (de) * 2008-04-11 2010-12-29 Rambus Inc. Bewegungserfassung mithilfe eines flexiblen substrats
US20100036287A1 (en) * 2008-08-08 2010-02-11 Michael Weber Method and Device for Detecting Parameters for the Characterization of Motion Sequences at the Human or Animal Body
WO2011032575A1 (de) * 2009-09-21 2011-03-24 Epionics Medical Gmbh Verfahren und system zum erfassen von parametern zur charakterisierung von bewegungsabläufen am menschlichen körper und computerimplementiertes verfahren zur analyse von parametern zur charakterisierung von bewegungsabläufen am menschlichen körper
KR102056898B1 (ko) 2013-01-22 2019-12-18 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 플렉서블 디스플레이 및 이의 각도 측정 방법
US8941392B1 (en) 2013-08-17 2015-01-27 Bend Labs, Inc. Angular displacement sensor of compliant material
US9316477B1 (en) * 2014-10-01 2016-04-19 Hsin-Hui Wu Digital angle finder
US9612102B2 (en) 2015-04-17 2017-04-04 Bend Labs, Inc Compliant multi-region angular displacement and strain sensors
US10682077B2 (en) * 2015-04-22 2020-06-16 Board Of Regents, The University Of Texas System Mechanical audio and haptic feedback deflection beam
US10959644B2 (en) 2016-03-24 2021-03-30 Bend Labs Inc. Compliant sensors for force sensing

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GB2099155B (en) * 1981-03-27 1985-01-16 Nat Res Dev Goniometer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1257918A (en) 1989-07-25
EP0192694A1 (de) 1986-09-03
WO1986001588A1 (en) 1986-03-13
DE3574049D1 (en) 1989-12-07
GB8422136D0 (en) 1984-10-03
US4897927A (en) 1990-02-06

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